TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumo wrestler Kisenosato, who holds the highest rank of yokozuna, pulled out of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, a day after suffering his fourth consecutive defeat to start the competition 0-4.
Kisenosato is the first Japan-born wrestler in 19 years to gain promotion to the rank of yokozuna but has struggled with a series of niggling injuries and has completed just one full tournament since being promoted in January 2017.
Following his surprising loss to middle-ranked Tochiozan in Fukuoka on Wednesday, the 32-year-old said he would be pulling out of the meet.
Before completing the September meet in Tokyo with a 10-5 record, Kisenosato had previously pulled out of all or part of eight successive tournaments.
(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)